COMING off the back of three wins, Alton maintained their unbeaten run with a hard-fought draw against South Wilts, the reigning Southern Premier League champions.

Scott Myers broke his toss voodoo and on a day where he may have preferred to lose it, elected to bowl first at Lower Bemerton.

Without the injured Ben Mortimer, Alton looked to Alex Hughes to make early inroads and he bowled with great control to find the edge of William Wade’s bat, Dan Hutton taking the slip catch; South Wilts 8-1.

Hughes could also have dismissed Jack Mynott, but the chance went begging and from that point the batsmen were dominant.

Alton tried to keep a lid on the run-rate as Jake Winter and Mynott built a major partnership. Winter was put down off Jack Myers and when play resumed after lunch, both batsmen were edging towards their centuries.

Winter was first to three figures and the stand was worth 203 when the Brewers at last had a bit of luck, Toby Salmon running out Mynott for 89 as he went for a second run.

Alton finally saw the back of the Australian for 111 off 130 balls, Winter driving Michael Salmon straight to Scott Myers at mid-off.

Alton had two new batsmen to bowl at, but James Hayward and Joe Cranch calmly played themselves in before accelerating and adding 88 as South Wilts batted on and on.

When Jack Myers took three wickets in an over, skipper Hayward (44 not out) had seen enough and declared on a formidable 302-6 off 61.5 overs.

Alton knew their run-chase would have to go perfectly if they were to challenge the distant target.

Abeed Janmohamed, promoted to opener, immediately tucked into anything short and 36 runs came briskly before James Hibberd had Hutton caught off his glove down the leg side.

Alex Hammond joined Janmohamed and both batted with real purpose to give Alton the stand they needed. The pair were still there after tea and had advanced the score to 153 when Hammond was adjudged leg before to Mynott for an excellent 60 off 88 balls.

Alton still had it all to do and their slim chances receded when Janmohamed was caught off Hibberd for 89, including 11 fours and two sixes.

The visitors were 168-3 and the run-rate was climbing as Scott Myers and Michael Heffernan looked to get the measure of the bowling. South Wilts were still concerned enough to protect the boundaries and Alton struggled to step up the tempo.

Heffernan was caught off a mis-timed shot and, at 195-4, Alton required over 80 for the winning draw. Myers was trapped in front for a valuable 33 (211-5) and Steve Warner bowled with great hostility as South Wilts strove to make late strikes. Mark Heffernan and Jack Myers stood firm and Alton gained another batting point before Warner produced a sharp, short delivery to dismiss Myers.

Heffernan and Michael Salmon shared a final important stand and the last over arrived with Alton requiring 17 for another bonus point and the home side an unlikely four wickets for victory.

The pair plundered 19 runs and Alton ended a long day on a creditable 252-6, 33 runs short of the win-draw target.